Alumni Reunions and Events

A full-capacity event was held for 180 alumni, honorary fellows, friends of the University and guests in the beautiful Cholmondeley Room and terrace of the House of Lords, London on Tuesday, 12 September 2023.

Guests were welcomed by Lord Dafydd Wigley and addressed by our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edmund Burke, and Bangor University’s Chair of Council, Marian Wyn Jones. They were also treated to a performance by three students from the Department of Music and heard from Bangor alumnus Harry Riley (Master of Biology, 2019), Head of Planning and Governance in Online Harms in the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Our alumni caught up with one another and chatted to staff from across the University whilst enjoying drinks, canapes and the splendid views of London across the Thames from the Terrace.

In August, the Development and Alumni Relations Office once again held their annual reunion for alumni as part of Bangor University’s activities at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Boduan.

Around 200 alumni and former staff joined us on the stand, where they were welcomed by Professor Andrew Edwards who shared an update of developments at the University. They then heard about the successes of the Students’ Union from UMCB President Celt John, who finished by leading the crowd in a sing-song!

Emma Marshall, Head of Development and Alumni Relations, said “It was a great pleasure to be able to hold our annual reunion at the National Eisteddfod of Wales again this year. This is a highlight in the DARO calendar and it was lovely to see some familiar faces as well as meeting some new alumni.”

We were pleased to have the opportunity to meet alumni in Pontio last week prior to the performance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 40 alumni and their guests met Vice-Chancellor Prof. Edmund Burke, Chair of University Council Marian Wyn Jones and the Development and Alumni Relations team over drinks and canapes before attending the sell-out concert.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Bangor University have a relationship that goes back many years with several students receiving instrument lessons from the Orchestra and taking part in KTP projects which gave research students the opportunity to work with the RLPO in Liverpool. 

Thank you to all of you who joined us!

Bangor University was pleased to be able to return to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 8 November 2022 and to hold our seventh Bangor University Alumni Reunion at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) headquarters in Bahrain Bay.

Over 90 alumni caught up with each other and developments at Bangor over drinks and canapes. Hosted by Professor Andrew Edwards, Bangor University's Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of Dean of College of Arts, Humanities and Business, guests were also addressed by His Excellency Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Professor Bruce Vanstone, Head of Bangor Business School.

Also during the evening, Zahra Al Shamma (Banking and Finance, 2013) was announced as the recipient of the 2022 Bangor University / BIBF Alumnus of the Year award. 

A group of over 40 former students from the 1960s and 1970s returned to Bangor 2-3 September for a reunion organised by alumni Roger Thwaites (Zoology, 1971) and Foster Edwards (Agriculture, 1971).

The reunion was kicked off with a celebratory game of table tennis to christen the new permanent table tennis tables recently installed outside Bar Uno on the Ffriddoedd site. The University was able to purchase these after the group clubbed together to raise £5,000 to mark their time in Bangor.

The group met on Saturday morning to hear talks from Lewis Thompson, Students’ Union VP for Sports, and Dr Andy Cooke, Director of Bangor University’s Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance and the reunion was rounded off with a buffet dinner and drinks in Bar Uno.

Prior to the reunion, the group clubbed together to raise £5,000 to buy two permanent table tennis tables which have been installed outside Bar Uno on the University's Ffriddoedd site. The alumni kicked off the reunion weekend with a celebratory game to christen the tables. Watch the video here!

Here are some other highlights:

• An older member of the rugby side came to Bangor early on Friday to indulge in his passion of hill climbing and walking. He was on Tryfan and unfortunately fell. He got help and was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd where he had eight stitches put in his leg. Heroically, he made the rest of the weekend (and is ok now)!
• Roger and Ann Doig showed true dedication and travelled up to Bangor just for the Friday night as they had a family party on Saturday. What dedication!
• The group enjoyed excellent food in Bar Uno on the Saturday night. A special mention to the brilliant staff who were very helpful. They even joined in the singing!
• A period of silence was marked for departed friends.
• Brian Charnley entertained the group with his sports poems and writings, as did Stan Moore with his guitar and singing and Twm Jones singing 'Myfanwy'
• John Northridge shared a story of Albert Ross (permanent loan from Swansea University) and his election and subsequent resignation from the student committee
• Celia Wolfe brought along her memorabilia from the ladies hockey club, including fixture lists
• Jane Smith and Jill Nicholson led the singing of some of the songs from the old union bar on a Saturday night. The words had not been forgotten!

Read the report from John Young (Modern Languages, 1970)

Read the report by Brian Charnley (English and Drama, 1970)

If you are interested in organising a reunion for your cohort, please contact Bethan Perkins, Alumni Relations Officer, at b.w.perkins@bangor.ac.uk